Posted on 06/27/2002 2:14:49 AM PDT by fella
Rogers Police To Relax Ban On Fireworks For The Fourth Thu, Jun 27, 2002
Guidelines offered; tickets would be issued under noise ordinance
By Erik Sanzenbach
The Morning News/NWAonline.net
ROGERS -- Even though fireworks are not legal within Rogers city limits, the police department will allow residents to use fireworks July 3 and 4.
"We are taking a real relaxed approach to enforcement for July 3 and 4," said Lt. Mike Johnson.
There will be some guidelines for using fireworks on the Fourth:
• No fireworks may be used on land that is someone else's property.
• Fireworks may not be used after 10 p.m.
• Fireworks may not be used in a mischievous or dangerous fashion that would cause injury or damage to property.
• No fireworks can be used if there is a burn ban in the county.
Johnson said that there is no ordinance controlling fireworks in Rogers, but the police can enforce the use of fireworks under the noise ordinance. If police give a ticket, it will be for a violation of the noise ordinance and will cost $75.
"We won't arrest or ticket anyone before 10 p.m.," said Johnson. "After 10 p.m., we will get a lot stricter."
Johnson said that enforcement will depend on the number of complaints the police get on both days.
"The main thing is neighbors complaining," said Johnson. "As long as there are no complaints before 10 p.m., we will be loose with it."
The police said that they want to keep the holiday safe for people. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were responsible for 6,300 visits to the emergency room during the July Fourth celebrations in 2001.
Of those visits, 30 percent were injuries to the hands, wrists and arms; 20 percent of the injuries were to the eyes; and 40 percent of the victims were under the age of 14.
Dr. Lucas Platt, an eye surgeon at the Boozman-Hof Regional Eye Clinic, recommends that families go to professionally managed events to watch fireworks.
"It's a lot safer for your family," said Platt. "And you shouldn't ever let your children play with fireworks of any kind."
Platt reminds people that even sparklers burn as hot as 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to melt gold.
Rogers police are asking people to be safe with fireworks and to be very careful about fire hazards.
"We want everybody to enjoy the holiday," said Johnson, "but we also want everybody to be careful."
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